The Greatest Day of My Life

This is the start of the greatest day of my life
A new dawn; a balance; a purpose; a plan
Once taken for granted but never again
This is the start of the greatest day of my life

This is the song that heralds the start of my day
It’s hopeful and fearless, heartfelt and true
The rhythm and message are measured for you
This is the song that heralds the start of my day

It’s all about love
And fostering joy
Taking a chance, here; daring to feel; to fly higher than high
The glory of love
Believing I’m saved
Slaying the cancer, playing in fields, running so far and wide
With you at my side

This is the start of the greatest day of my life
A moment not promised; one heartbeat; one breath
The boldness, the courage to turn right or left
This is the start of the greatest day of my life

This is the way I will face each day of my life
Endurance with honor, no good word unsaid
A fearless, “Goodnight”; the absence of dread
This, the same way I did live on this day of my life

It’s all about love
And fostering joy
Taking a chance, here; daring to feel; to fly higher than high
The glory of love
Believing I’m saved
Slaying the cancer, playing in fields, running so far and wide
With you at my side

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Patrick Keenan is a prostate cancer survivor living
in South Euclid, OH. He wrote this poem for his wife on Valentine’s
Day, shortly after his cancer diagnosis.

This article was published in Coping® with Cancer magazine,
March/April
2009.